Whole Foods Market: Searching for New Local Suppliers

Whole Foods Market, the world’s leading natural and organic foods grocer, is currently looking for new, local, Missouri-based products to stock its latest store in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood. The new store is set to open spring 2016.

For a business to be considered local and attend this summit, the products should be grown, manufactured and packaged in the state of Missouri. During the summit, interested suppliers will learn about Whole Foods Market’s Quality Standards and supplier process, and then meet individual with buyers to discuss their products in more detail.

The Missouri Supplier Summit takes place Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Maryville University Auditorium, 650 Maryville University Dr., St. Louis. Advanced registration is required for those interested. To secure a spot, send the participants’ name, company name, brief product description, and contact email and phone number to MW.Local.Supplier.Submissions@WholeFoods.com by Friday, Oct. 16.

Currently, anywhere from 10-30 percent of the products on Whole Foods Market shelves come from local producers. Several suppliers, such as St. Louis-based Billy Goat Chips, have grown from a single store to other stores in the region.

Since 1980, Whole Foods Market has led the grocery industry with its Quality Standards. These high standards for quality and transparency offers shoppers access to delicious, pure foods; minimally-processed body care products and environmentally-friendly cleaning products.